THE REPRESENTATION ACT.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12935, 15 October 1907, Page 8

THE REPRESENTATION ACT.

DEPUTATION TO THE PREMIER

A NON-COMMITTAL REPLY

)e (SPECIAL TO "THE PBESS.") ie WELLINGTON. October 14. m This morning the Premier was intera- viewed by a lirge number of members y of the House of Representatives on the is representation question. The deputa- -- tion was a private one, and not open ■c to tho Press. It was pointed out to >y the Premier that the recent distribuir tion cf seats gave the North Island 41 *- members, and the South Wand 33 *, members. The nominal population of a the colony in 1906 was stated ot ie 1,013.331, the population of the North v Island (with provision for 41 Euror pean niem~ere.) being 544,019. and ot : " the South Inland (with provision for 3.1 European members) 171,362. Each n Ik kind at present has 38 members. ' It is now suggested by come of the "- Southern Wand members that the .c population of the South Wand be taken h a* the basis for tho quota, and that t the North Island receive the reprc- . sei-.tiition on that basis, which would • v I give the South Island 3-* members, and 11 | tho North Wand 43.i>> members, equal '- J to a total European representation fin I ! round number*) of B'J. with a popuiaII i ri.m of 12..500 each. '■ The unworkable nature of some conP sHtuencitt* owing to their size was refc | I'crred to. and aiso the fact that there 0 ! would be further chatmes of boundaries 0 in 1908. and 1911. destroying in some • instances community of interest. It ." wm stated that under the new bcund- * .-nice, -omo candidates would have to ) address over 100 meetings. 'ihe " ohvsiciil strain and financial ooligaJ tions involved would be, it was ur^cd, undiilv great. Tho deputation en- ' de.ivuured to maki: it clear to the Pie- " niier that there would be no attempt to do an injustice to the North Island 1 It was contended also that during the na*t fifteen years the work of members ' had increased quite fivolold. Tlie proposal made by the depuinion ' was that legit-datum should be in<";-.i--'jic'ihl fixing the number of members ' to be elected for the South lau-.u ' next year at 38 European niembvis with proportional reprowntation to ni'i North Island, which would bring us representation im to 44; also to pro vido that the representation of the iSouth Wand should in future be not less than 38 members, with propo'i-riov ate representation for the North ' s ! aiid until tho totall 'representative for tin. Dominion reaches 95; and tnat wnon this point is reached, tho whole qu*« tion of representation shall bo revi y.ved by Parliament. Sir Joseph Ward said that tho o.cblera of representation was a d iTlcuk one, and the prouosals of the deputation would require careful oon3'deration. One important detail w.iu'i: ik the readjustment of boundaries ;, i bi'.h islands. Ho recognised that *nose wh > had referred to the obliteration of ••ertain electorates had pre3ent.-l thencase in such a way as call for oonsid.vntiou, if that were possible. He did nob like to think that members shrila bo thrust out of political life in a haphazard way. It would be for ihe Government to see if anything could be done to meet the wishes of memb *•.•?, and of their constituents, but only if an equitable basis could be determined. He could not, of course, make any promise, but he assured the deputation of his desire to approach this matter ot representation m a manner that would be fair and just to the country as a whole The Government, he added, would have to use the utmost caution in coming to a decision, but the matter would be placed' before Cabinet with a view to its careful consideration. VIEWS OF NORTH ISLAND MEMBERS. Mr Remington, member for Ran„itikei, on being asked' for his opinio, as a North Island member, took a favourable view of the proposals of tho southern representatives.. "I was form- : erly opposed to the suggestion to increase the number of members." he said, "but after taking a tour through the centre of Otago a few months ego, I found reason to alter my opinion. With the knowledge that I thus gained of the extent of some of th© large southern districts, added to my experience of the representation of large districts in the North Wand, I have come . to the conclusion that such a change as suggested would make for efficient representation." The proposals he considered, wero fair to tho North Wand, providing as they did for a further increase of three members for that island, and he saw no reason to with- ] hold his support from the movement that had been set on foot. Another North Island, member who was spoken to on the subject said that . he saw no reason for the .pronosed I change. He recognised the awkward position in which some of the present - members found themselves, but he I looked upon the present basis of re- i presentation as satisfactory, and the increased expense that would be involved by six extra districts would not be warranted. "There is." he added, "one argument in favour of the proposal, and that is the large proportion that the present number of Ministers * bears to the total number of members. ; Tho proportion is at present too large, . and such an increase members as , suggested would certainly reduce this ' proportion to something like a reason- ' able limit." * Ono of the members of the southern i deputation, in conversation this evening, said that the deputation was by no means discouraged by tho result of tho interview with tho Premier, and " that they were hopeful of the Govern- ' ment bringing forward some proposal c on the lines advocated. I